TN may amend RTE Act to boost admissions in govt schools

The RTE Act mandates 25% reservation in admission for children belonging to disadvantaged groups and weaker sections in all self-financing schools in entry level class. The State Government has so far sanctioned more than Rs 600 crore for reimbursement of fee to private schools for children admitted under RTE for the period from 2013-14 to 2018-19. 

With about one lakh children in the State getting admitted in private schools under RTE every year, admissions to government and government-aided institutions have drastically decreased in the last five years. 

A senior official from the School Education Department told DT Next that the government is seriously mulling amendment of RTE provisions to make it compulsory for parents to approach government schools in their locality before applying for admissions to private schools under RTE. Accordingly, students would be entitled to an RTE fee reimbursement from private schools only if there is no government school in their area. 

“The current rules under the RTE Act do not have norms and parents who admit their children in private schools under RTE are eligible for fee reimbursement even if there is a government school in their locality,” he added.

Stating that the government is reimbursing fees to private schools for all children who were admitted through RTE, the official said, “This has hindered functioning of state-run schools and has also affected authorities’ move to improve admissions in government schools”. 

Pointing out that admissions to government schools have reduced by around four lakh in five years, he said the RTE Act amendment would be beneficial. “Under the proposed new provisions, a child would be eligible for RTE admissions only if there is no government school in the locality or if the students do not get admitted to government schools,” he said. The official also made it clear that the final decision to amend RTE Act will be taken only after consulting with the stakeholders concerned.